Exploring the limits of the quantum superposition principle: From matter waves to nanomechanical oscillators

will be held from May 12th to May 17th, 2013 in the Physikzentrum in Bad Honnef, located about 15 km south of Bonn (Germany). It is funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.

Aims of the school

We are witnessing an increased interest in probing the foundations of quantum mechanics by experiments that delocalize mechanical degrees of freedom over mesoscopic or even macroscopic scales. The systems considered differ widely, from neutrons delocalized on centimeter scale, over the interference of complex molecules and BECs, to attempts of observing quantum motion in mechanical cantilevers and nanobeads. Given the enormous variation in size, mass, complexity, and temperature scales over many orders of magnitude, it may seem surprising that the underlying physics, as well as the required technologies and theoretical approaches share many features. Examples include the requirements for cooling complex systems, as well as the description of effects of decoherence and non‐standard extensions of quantum mechanics. The school aims at bringing the different communities together to learn from each other and to facilitate a fruitful exchange of ideas between the disciplines.

Topics

Ultrafast electron diffraction

Quantum delocalization in photoionization electrons

Fundamental physics in neutron interferometry

Atom interferometry

BEC interferometry

Delocalized electrons in mesoscopic structures

Quantum states of nanomechanical oscillators

Interference phenomena in phase space

Measures of macroscopicity

Towards quantum delocalization of nanospheres

Spontaneous localization models

Limits of quantum delocalization in semiclassical gravity

Coherence in excitonic systems

The organizers invite PhD students, postdocs, and advanced Master students to apply and to present their own work in poster sessions.